This study of the services and support provided by domestic-violence programs in four States was designed to help fill a gap in current knowledge about the range of services provided and the needs and experiences of domestic-violence survivors.
The study findings indicate that domestic violence programs in these four States address compelling needs of domestic-violence survivors that are not available elsewhere. The programs provide an array of services to abuse victims and their children. Prominent services are safety, information, help with children, services for emotional distress, and assistance with immigration-related issues when needed. Recommendations for improved services include expanding culturally specific programming, economic support, mental health services for adults and children, staff training in the racial/ethnic diversity of clients, and resources for programming. Additional mixed-method research on the needs of particular domestic-violence survivor populations is recommended. Data from programs showed that they ranged significantly in capacity (1 to 70 staff members) and had provided services and support for between 26 and 8,519 survivors in the past year. Across programs, staff could speak 48 languages; 69 percent had staff who spoke Spanish. Nearly half of respondents reported being born outside of the United States; 31 percent of surveys were completed in eight languages other than English. One-fifth of survivors were served by predominantly rural programs, and 21 percent of clients reported having a disability or disabling condition. Data were collected during a 9-month period from 1,467 survivors served by 90 domestic-violence programs in the four States. The States were selected to maximize geographical population, rural/urban areas, and economic diversity. Ten focus groups were conducted with 73 survivors who represented marginalized groups and populations often neglected in the literature. 60 tables, 95 references, and 13 appendixes with supplementary information
Downloads
Similar Publications
- A Practical Guide to Interviewing Potential Human Trafficking Victims
- Grooming Traffickers: Investigating the Techniques and Mechanisms for Seducing and Coercing New Traffickers
- NORC Research Brief: National Study of Victim Compensation Programs Barriers and Challenges to Compensating Victims of Crime